Kejriwal, who went to ‘˜assess’ the development work done by Gujarat chief minister and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, was detained by Gujarat Police for violation of Model Code of Conduct.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal is in Gujarat and the social media platforms are full of him. Some are praising him and many are booing him over the high political drama that has started after his visit to the state this afternoon.
Kejriwal, who went to ‘assess’ the development work done by Gujarat chief minister and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, was greeted by a large crowd of his followers in their trademark topi holding party sumbol broom in hands. Keriwal then indulged in a road show in Radhnagar from where he tweeted pictures to slam Modi and his ‘development model’.
This is the state in many villages “@KumarBibhav: Primary Health Center, Village- Badi Pipli, Patan, Gujarat pic.twitter.com/IqZDLlkZpN“
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 5, 2014
He also addressed the gathering.
Since model code of conduct is in place in the whole country, the Gujarat Police detained Kejriwal. The former CM of Delhi reportedly told them that he was on a personal visit and not on a political one. He was later released.
Coming out of the police station Kejriwal said, “There is no development here. Modi is totally anti farmer, anti aam aadmi. All the delopment that has happened in Gujarat has been for the Ambanis and Adanis.” He also told the media that his detention was a proof that Modi was rattled by his visit.
The AAP leader was shown black flags by 100 odd villagers and his caravan was also stopped. However, an unfazed Kejriwal stated that he had expected such tactics from the Gujarat CM.
Meanwhile, the AAP workers and supporters stone-pelted BJP office in Delhi protesting Kejriwal’s detention by Gujarat police. Kumar Vishwas, who is contesting from Rahul Gandhi’s stronghold Amethi tweeted:
Rahul Gandhi Sabha is going on in Aurangabad. What about model code there?#AKinGujarat
— Dr. Kumar Vishvas (@DrKumarVishwas) March 5, 2014
However, we fail to see what Aurangabad, which is in Bihar, has to do with actions taken by Gujarat police. Bihar government, which is lead by JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, has no ties with Modi or BJP or even Gujarat.
The detention started a twitter war, once again, between AAP supporters and NaMo fans. While AAP supporters were questioning Kejriwal’s detention, NaMo fans were criticizing Kejriwal’s timing and AAP supporters violent mob mentality.
Here is a look at tweets from both sides:
AAP supporters:
If you brag about development in front of media, why detention? Why not welcome? #NarendraModi #AAP #AKinGujarat @narendramodi
— Devansh Thakker (@D_vans) March 5, 2014
इस बार बीजेपी बहà¥à¤¤ बà¥à¤°à¥€ तरह हारेगी #DarGayaModi #AKinGujarat
— Ballu Ram Kiroriwal (@RamPD78) March 5, 2014
अà¤à¥€ तो शीला हारी है मोदी तेरी बारी है #AKinGujarat
— Sukhbir Singh (@sukhbir_1981) March 5, 2014
“Gujarat Development Model cudnt handle Kejriwal’s visit .. #AKinGujarat”
— Vikash Kumar (@vikash_ind) March 5, 2014
So, if there is traffic in some area, Gujarat police arrests people stuck there? #AKinGujarat
— Varadharajan (@varadha_94) March 5, 2014
NaMo supporters:
AK :यंहा बस अडà¥à¤¡à¤¾ होता था, à¤à¤¯à¤°à¤ªà¥‹à¤°à¥à¤Ÿ कंहा से आया? आटो वाला: ‘बावला हो गया कà¥à¤¯à¤¾? यह बस अडà¥à¤¡à¤¾ ही है’ #AKinGujarat pic.twitter.com/rxajsVFGao“
— nitesh singhaniya (@Yoyo_nitesh) March 5, 2014
Ab Dilli se mann bhar gaya to dusre rajya ki shanti bhang karne pahuche hain! #AKinGujarat
— Richa Mishra (@MishraRicha04) March 5, 2014
Kejriwal didn’t find anything much 2 prove ‘No development in Guj’ How does he ans people? Hence the drama 2 distract them! #AKInGujarat
— Akanksha (@Mrs_Patankar) March 5, 2014
Ban #AAP they are pelting stones on #BJP office They are the most unruly ppl #AKinGujarat EC should take strong action
— Akshay mane (@akashaymane) March 5, 2014
@ArvindKejriwal judging @narendramodi work in #Gujarat is like..ManMohanSingh going to USA to judge Obama’s work..!! #AKinGujarat 😀 😉
— Isha Ganeriwal (@IshaSG) March 5, 2014
#AKinGujarat you may be able to fool Delhi but not us >Villagers wave black flags term him anti-Gujarat – Rightly so http://t.co/7LOdVsUQTx
— Jasumati (@JasumatiPatel) March 5, 2014
When AAP volunteers were thrashed by Congress in Amethi, did they protest in front of Congress office in Delhi? #AKinGujarat #ModiKiDilli
— Abhishek Sharma (@Abhi_BJP) March 5, 2014
Election Commission aur Modi ki mili-bhagat hai. I’m just waiting for this statement. WIll make my day. #AKinGujarat
— Vibhas Puri (@Vibhas_Puri) March 5, 2014
Kejriwal is being accompanied by other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. They were welcomed by a large number of AAP members, who were seen carrying brooms (their party symbol) and shouting slogans ‘Sheila Dikshit hari hai, ab Modi ki bari hai’ (Sheila Dikshit has lost, now it’s Modi’s turn).
Last month Kejriwal had written a letter to Modi on the Reliance gas issue and asked him to make the election expenses of the BJP public and also the people who fund the party’s election campaign. He had also asked Modi whether he would bring down the gas price if he came to power. AAP has also announced that Kejriwal will fight elections against Modi if he contests from anywhere outside Gujarat.